Get the lowdown on this kids sports business with our Little Kickers Q&A with Aussie franchisor Dan Kelland.

Hey Dan, thanks for taking time out to shine a light on what Little Kickers is all about. Let’s get started…

What do franchisees do?

We provide age-appropriate soccer classes for children aged from 18 months. The sessions are imagination-based, which really engages the children and ensures a great deal of fun for the kids, parents and coaches!

Franchisees who join our team are responsible for replicating the success of Little Kickers in their own exclusive areas, with the support, guidance and resources provided by our head office team. 

What skills do franchisees need?

To join our team, you must be an enthusiastic team player with a “can do” attitude and be passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of young children through sport. 

Running your own business isn’t always easy, so we look for someone who has perseverance and good communication skills.

While we encourage people from all backgrounds and with a wide variety of skills to consider joining the team, one critical success factor is the time a franchisee can spend on running and developing their business. As such, we look for individuals who have a minimum of 25 hours per week available to run their franchise.

How much money can franchisees make?

Little Kickers franchisees have the flexibility to capitalise on all opportunities within their franchise area. Beyond commercial classes, we also offer parties and sessions in childcare centres and schools.

A key aspect of our model is that we are not “term driven”. This means that, aside from the end-of-year closure and public holidays, franchisees can operate year-round to maximise the revenue opportunities and create a business that is rewarding both personally and financially.

What does it cost to invest?

A new Little Kickers franchise costs between $20,000 and $30,000 + GST, depending on location.

How much training do franchisees get?

Our comprehensive new franchisee training program lasts for one week. We then have frequent support calls as the franchisee starts to operate their business to ensure they are comfortable. These are minimum once per week. 

Going forward, franchisees are then integrated into our ongoing scheduled support program.

As part of a network of over 330 franchisees, there is a wealth of content and information available across the group. We also have forums and training portals to provide support and engage the services of a digital agency for our marketing efforts.

What are the pitfalls?

Because this is a fun franchise with a low entry cost, there is the potential for it to be viewed as a business that is easy to run with minimal effort. 

With the technology and systems we now have in place, many aspects of the business are certainly streamlined, but anyone who invests in owning a franchise should be prepared to work hard for the rewards and put in the required hours to make it successful.

What about running costs?

The overheads of the business are very low, coach wages and venue hire (for commercial classes) being the main ones.

We also have the children’s uniform costs and insurance but, as a global brand, we benefit from economies of scale here.

How do potential franchisees find out more?

Prospective franchisees can visit Little Kickers here to see what opportunities are available.